Duties of the Fire Police

1. To regulate traffic at fires.

This shall include traffic at the scene of any emergency to which your department has been called, until discharged by your chief, or the regular local police agency.

2. To protect firefighters while fighting fires.

Remember that we are all firefighters first, and fire police second. Our main objective is to provide the adequate protection for the firefighters so that they may do their job without interference of others.

3. To protect the general public at the scene of a fire.

Residents, owners, occupants, relatives, transients, spectators and even the news media tend to hamper the operations.  Tact and courtesy must be employed to keep them safe and away from harm or obstructing fire operations.

4. To keep fire areas clear for fire fighting.

Apparatus, emergency vehicles, service vehicles and firefighters' personal vehicles all need room to park, operate within, turn around, run tanker operations and lay hose lines for fire-fighting operations.  Always keep this space available and clear.

5. To protect the equipment of a fire company.

Keep all non-firefighters away from and especially off of department vehicles, and away from its equipment. Don't allow anyone to damage any equipment, and prevent looting.

6. To enforce the laws of the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania relating to fire department activities, firefighting techniques and emergency vehicle driving.

The reckless disregard for safe driving within an emergency area, driving over fire hoses, spectators disrespect for fire lines and non-emergency vehicle intrusions are only some of the laws we must be firm in controlling at the scene with respectability.

7. To cooperate with all regular police agencies.

We are all there for the same purpose and reasons - to provide protection, safety and to prevent a situation from getting out of hand, therefore we must cooperate with each other by working together effectively and efficiently.

8. To protect the property at the scene of a fire until the Chief releases him from duty and turns the responsibility over to other police agencies or to the owner.

Allow no one to enter within the scene without proper identification or credentials. Be alert, we may see or hear something from a person that may have a direct bearing upon the situation, protect the scene's evidence, and report unusual events or happenings.

9. To assist the Chief at all fires and emergencies.

The fire chief is in charge of the fire department when called to duty.  The fire police take direction from the fire chief when on the scene of most fires and other emergencies.  The local police will usually dictate the duties of the fire police when control of traffic or a crime scene is required.  (In Pennsylvania the Chief of Police of the local municipality has full authority of the Fire Police when at a scene by themselves without the fire department.)

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